Country Pride (Belle Ridge Book 1)

by Charlene Bright

  They talked for a minute and the buyer nodded his head and spoke confidentially into Jared’s ear, even as he bid on calves running through the sale ring. Kinsley heard Jared yell, “four hundred and fifty to five hundred,” when another buyer asked him how much his cattle would weigh per head. The auctioneer stopped for a moment and began talking up Jared’s calves as the first bunch entered the ring. “Reputation cattle here. Adamson Pride is just that, folks, and you can look at these calves and see it.”

  The calves were gentle and easy to handle, unlike some of the other wild cattle that had been through, which had snorted and hammered their heads into the fence, trying to escape their unfamiliar confines.

  There had been a drought out west, and a lot of small ranchers had gone under. Beef prices were up and the demand for steers to turn onto wheat fields was high. The fifty-five head of steers brought an average of two dollars and ten cents a pound, and the average weight was four hundred and seventy-eight pounds a calf. The calves brought in a total of fifty-five thousand, two hundred and nine dollars. It cost eighteen dollars a head as commission to the sale barn, and Carl was paid a hundred and twenty-five to haul the cattle there. When it was all done, Jared walked away with just over fifty-four thousand dollars. And it was this pricing that kept Adamson Pride running productively.

  It was dinner time when they walked into the house. Nikki offered to pick up food in town while Jared and Kinsley cleaned up. Once in his room, he began to undress and noticed a missed call from J.J. He hesitantly hit the redial button, dread causing his stomach to roil.

  “We got it,” said the mechanic.

  “Oh,” said Jared. “I . . . uh . . . thought you were going to delay.”

  “Well there’s only so much delaying a good mechanic like me can do without hurting my reputation. But I’m glad we went ahead and looked. You may have a problem. Her gas tank was full of water.”

  “How’d that happen?”

  “Only one way,” returned J.J. “Someone put it in there.”

  ***

  Jared considered J.J.’s announcement while he chopped the wood the storm had scattered the day before. He had let Kinsley know her car was fixed but had not yet told her that it was most likely vandalism. Excusing himself, he found a chore he could take care of quickly while waiting on his daughter to return with dinner. He needed to consider the implications of what he’d learned. Finally, he settled on the explanation of a random prank. He just couldn’t imagine her making someone so mad as to target her on purpose. Something continued to gnaw at him about that, but his thoughts were interrupted immediately.

  As he reached into the pile, he heard something move and a chill went through him when he heard the rattle. He stilled and pulled his hand back very slowly as the timber rattlesnake slithered out the other end of the pile. Snakes were certainly not a rare sighting on the farm, but timber rattlers didn’t often come this close to the house. He was more likely to run into a rat snake or a black snake, or sometimes a more dangerous copperhead. It wouldn’t do to have the rattler loose so near the house and animals, so he followed the retreating snake as carefully as possible and dropped the ax onto its head.

  While having dinner, he recounted the incident nonchalantly. Nikki shivered visibly. “I hate those things. You’d think growing up here I’d be more used to them. I’m so glad you didn’t get bitten, Daddy.”

  “You and me both.” He noticed that their guest had grown very quiet. “Don’t worry. I got it. They don’t usually come so close to the house. I don’t think we’ll see another one.”

  “It’s not that,” began Kinsley. “It’s just…” She paused. “It’s just that it seems like some crazy things have been going on around here since I arrived. Maybe I’m bad luck.”

  Nikki rushed to her defense. “That’s ridiculous. Nothing here has happened that hasn’t happened a hundred times before. Right, Daddy?”

  He watched Kinsley for a moment, thinking that these things didn’t normally happen in such close succession, and he considered again the fact that someone had purposefully interfered with her car. But then he nodded when he noticed Kinsley’s worried look. Whatever was going on, it was most certainly not because she was bad luck. “Of course. I know you haven’t lived out in these parts for a long time. This is not the city. This is all normal for country living.”

  She seemed to relax as they ate, though the air remained thick. Again, something at the back of his mind seemed to be working to figure something out, but when he thought about the car, he thought about what would happen now that it was fixed. Everyone seemed to be avoiding the obvious question—would Kinsley be hitting the road now?

  When they were all seated on the front porch, enjoying the cooling of the summer’s dusk, Nikki finally broached the subject.

  “Okay, we all seem to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Ethel’s been cleared to be back in action. Does this mean you’ll be leaving soon, Kinsley?” She pouted slightly.

  Kinsley didn’t speak for a moment while two pairs of eyes watched her carefully. “Did I or did I not get invited to a special birthday party this weekend?”

  Nikki squealed and jumped up to squeeze her in a hug. Jared felt like hugging her too but settled instead on enjoying a beaming smile from her.

  “The bookstore in Carrollton will need a couple of days anyway to get the word out about the rescheduled event. Unless you guys are ready for me to leave, I think I’ll stay through the weekend and do a little more work on the new book.”

  “Ready for you to leave?” scoffed Nikki. “We’d be insulted if you did.” The younger woman returned to her seat and sipped from her glass of iced tea while the pleasant, light conversation resumed.

  Nikki was finishing a third story about her father and times when he had been the butt of many of her pranks, causing both women to get lost in their laughter. The subject of the teasing finally jumped in. “I think that’s about enough stories at my expense, don’t you think, Nikki?”

  Smiling, the young woman raised her arms above her head in an exaggerated yawn. “My goodness that sale took a lot out of me,” she said, standing up. “I think I’m gonna soak in the tub and call it a night.” She kissed her dad on the cheek and hugged Kinsley again. “I’m so glad you’re staying longer,” she whispered in her ear before walking back through the screen door.

  “Your daughter is the queen of subtlety, you know.”

  He smiled and watched the door shut behind Nikki before turning back to Kinsley. “She doesn’t get it from me.”

  “Definitely not,” Kinsley agreed.

  “Since you’re sticking around another few days, do you have time to go into Chattanooga with me tomorrow to get a birthday gift for Nikki?” The look on her face asked why he didn’t already have one. He rushed to explain. “This is a special birthday for my girl. I just haven’t been able to come up with the perfect gift. Believe me, I’ve tried. Maybe you can help inspire me.”

  “I’d love to help you pick out a gift for Nikki.”

  He told her about some of the gift ideas that had crossed his mind but been dismissed. They decided it would be easier to consider ideas while shopping, as the shops would help with the brainstorming instead of just pulling ideas out of thin air.

  “Can I ask one thing before we go tomorrow?”

  “Anything,” he said, curious.

  “Can we take a different vehicle else besides Herbert? Something with an air conditioner?” she asked tentatively.

  “Oh, I just have to put in some freon,” he said, suddenly thinking back to their ride to and from J.J.’s and then the cattle sale and realizing she must have been very uncomfortable. “Jimmy dropped some off the other day and I just haven’t gotten around to putting it in. I’m pretty used to the heat. I’m surprised Nikki didn’t say something. She hates the heat.”

  “She was probably too busy playing matchmaker,” Kinsley added.

  “Anyway, I’ll make sure to get that remedied first thing in the mornin
g.”

  Jared noticed Kinsley stifling a couple of yawns and thought the day had probably been a little taxing on someone who was not used to cattle sales. He suggested they retire for bed and get up early so they could first pick up Ethel and bring her back. They stood and turned to go inside. Before she could disappear through the front door, he took her hand and pulled her to him, kissing her gently before saying, “Good night.”

  12

  “You’re being silly,” Kinsley said to the mirror after again trying to connect the odd events of the previous week and wondering if she was bringing someone unwanted to Adamson Pride.

  After they had gone to their rooms the night before, she had talked with her publisher, who thought the plan to reschedule the book signing for the following week was a good one. Then she called Carley and told her about her weekend. Her best friend was pleased to hear that she had extended her stay and chided her for trying to connect the random events into something more sinister. Her words rang in Kinsley’s mind as she finished buttoning the purple, short-sleeved top and pulling her long hair back in a bunch.

  Convinced now that she was overreacting and being paranoid about bringing bad luck to everyone, she took a final look and decided that the tennis shoes were probably the way to go as they would be spending a lot of time walking. Then she turned off the light and left the room.

  Jared was waiting in the kitchen. He set a cup of coffee on the table with a carton of cream and gestured for her to sit. The black t-shirt looked particularly good against his muscles, especially where his biceps were lined by the short sleeves. His dark blue jeans and cowboy boots topped off the sexy look, along with his strawberry hair that was slick from his recent shower.

  She sat at the table and asked if he was leaning toward any particular category of gift. He shrugged and pulled out a chair next to her. “Maybe some books? She likes to read. Or a purse? Or jewelry? What else do young women like these days? I’m not very good at this.”

  “I doubt that,” she countered. “Why don’t we just get to Chattanooga and walk around downtown until inspiration strikes? I know I was only there a little more than twenty-four hours, but I did manage to check out some really cute shops around the bookstore.”

  The kitchen door swung open and Jared bit back his response, looking toward the door with a worried expression. Nikki was dressed and holding her phone to her ear.

  “Well, where were you thinking? … Okay, we can decide then. … Love you too.”

  “Hey, sweetheart,” he said as she poured herself a travel mug of coffee. “We’re gonna be gone for most of the day today.”

  Nikki paused and turned to him, her eyes questioning.

  “Kinsley would like to do a little more shopping since she’s staying for the week, and we thought a trip into Chattanooga would give her more options.”

  His daughter pulled out a chair and sat next to him. “That sounds like a great idea. Do you think you’ll be back late or do you want me to have dinner ready when you return?”

  He looked at Kinsley, appearing to be contemplating for a moment. “You know, I think we just might have a nice dinner out on the town, so expect us late.”

  Nikki beamed and Kinsley buried her grin in her mug.

  “Then I guess you guys are going out on a date!”

  “I guess we are,” he said, glancing at Kinsley whose insides suddenly seemed to be having a party.

  “Speaking of dinner,” Nikki continued, “Chance invited us all to dinner tomorrow night. I guess he wants to have a private pre-birthday celebration with just us.”

  “Sounds good, but how about we have a cookout over here for just the four of us. I’ve got that beef brisket that Sam brought us taking up room in the freezer. It would be a good time to get that out.”

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure I could talk him into that.” She stood up, grabbing her mug and purse. “I’m meeting up with Candy and Susan for brunch. They’re only in town a couple of days and can’t make it to the party this weekend, so they wanted to take me out.”

  “Say hi for me,” her father said as Nikki walked toward the door. “Oh, and if you’re not gone all day and don’t mind, would you give the horses a good brushing for me and feed the chickens?”

  Nikki paused before leaving the room and nodded. “Sure will. I’ll check to see if anything needs picking from the garden too.” Then she ran back over to give him and Kinsley hugs and called, “Have fun in Chattanooga,” over her shoulder as she walked back through the swinging door.

  Jared looked at his watch. “Not that we have a schedule or anything, but we should probably get going ourselves.”

  Kinsley nodded and took the last sip of her coffee before taking it to the sink. She headed through the swinging door, her back to him, while he finished his coffee, enjoying the view before her.

  ***

  After getting a receipt from the kiosk on the edge of the parking lot, Kinsley and Jared walked to the nearest shop, which just so happened to be Books on the Square, the same bookstore Kinsley had been signing books before meeting Jared and Nikki. Jana was talking with a customer at the cash register and smiled in recognition when Kinsley walked through the door. As she walked toward the bookstore manager to greet her, Jared put his hand on her arm and pointed at a nearby table.

  “I didn’t realize I might have to watch for paparazzi.”

  She followed his gaze and saw her own face smiling up at them from the books on display. Chuckling, she said, “Believe me, unless you’re J.K. Rowling or Stephen King, being famous for writing books doesn’t draw nearly the attention that Hollywood stars do. No need to be on the lookout.”

  Jana walked up to them, surprise and delight in her smile. “I figured you’d be back in Chicago by now,” she said, reaching out to hug Kinsley.

  “Long story,” Kinsley replied, returning the affection. “It involves a car named Ethel and a handsome cowboy and his horse.” She put her arm through Jared’s and looked up at him, and Jana smiled at the aforementioned cowboy, who reddened slightly.

  He reached out his calloused hand. “I’m Jared.”

  Jana shook it and began a lively conversation about the event the week before while Jared walked around the store. Before they’d walked in, Kinsley had mentioned the classics section would be a good place to start looking for a gift for his book-loving daughter. He was kneeling, glancing through a collection of Shakespeare’s sonnets, when Kinsley found him.

  “Not a bad idea. You should check out the used and collectible section. You might be able to find a special edition of something.”

  He grabbed the other books he had been considering, shelved them, and followed her. They chatted lightly as she pointed out some suggestions to him. He held each book she indicated and considered them. After a few minutes, he put the last book he was holding back on the shelf.

  “Any one of these would make a pretty good gift,” he said, sighing deeply.

  “But …?” She heard some hesitation.

  “But, I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel the like perfect thing, you know?”

  She did know. Readers loved getting books as gifts, but it did not exactly scream, “Happy 21st Birthday, Nikki.” She suggested they check out a gift store she had seen across the street when she’d first arrived for her book signing the week before.

  The quaint shop “One Frame at a Time” had some interesting pieces and included the ability to personalize gifts, which pushed them both to the idea of something that could be engraved. Jared had been particularly drawn to a beautiful silver-framed picture frame. He suggested to Kinsley that Nikki’s birthday could be put on the bottom of the frame. It was indeed a beautiful piece; still, she could tell that he was not completely sold.

  “Okay. Let’s keep this in mind as an option and check out a few more places. If we don’t find anything more perfect, we’ll come back here.” He agreed and gently replaced the frame onto its glass shelf.

  They checked out a few more specialty shops and
found a beautiful multicolor leather purse that really seemed to fit the young woman’s personality, so they added it to their list of possibilities and crossed the street. Jared spotted a flyer announcing an adoption event in the pet store hosted by the local Humane Society and suggested a puppy.

  “Not a good idea,” Kinsley dissuaded, “unless you’re really wanting a puppy for yourself. Where do you think the dog is going to live while she finishes college?” He admitted she had a point, but Kinsley thought he just might actually be considering a dog for Pride as well.

  They continued further down the street to enter a locally owned jewelry store, “Diamond Studded Custom Jewelry.” While he was considering some diamond earrings, Kinsley’s eye was caught by a golden locket. She stepped up to a sophisticated looking woman with one beautiful gray lock amid her dark-red, curly hair framing her lightly freckled face. The woman greeted her warmly and put away the box she was emptying.

  “Do you have more information written down about your engraving services and costs?” Kinsley asked her

  “Sure do. Let me grab the rate card for you.” She pulled out a laminated card from a shelf behind her.

  “And how long does it take to get something like this engraved?” She pointed to the locket.

  The redhead shrugged. “Not long, but our engraver won’t be back until tomorrow morning. She could probably knock it out in about ninety minutes, if she’s not already backed up.”

  Kinsley thanked the woman and joined Jared, who seemed rather flummoxed with the selections before him. “What do you think?”

  “I have an idea,” she said excitedly. “But it may mean we have to come back here tomorrow morning.”

  ***

  Happy with the purchase, Jared realized the last food they had eaten had been the breakfast sandwiches in the truck on the way to Chattanooga and had started to feel hungry, so he suggested they walk a couple of blocks to a local steak restaurant that Jana had recommended. Just as Kinsley put her foot into the crossway the “Do Not Walk” light came on. Jared reached out and took her hand, pulling her back. He enjoyed the sensation of her touch, and when she didn’t immediately pull away, he squeezed her hand. She looked up and smiled, giving him silent permission to hold her hand the entire way to the restaurant.